Design trends come and go, but there is one constant in the world of home decorating; family heirlooms never go out of fashion. Nothing personalizes a home like the items that are passed down from generation to generation. The things that are unique to your family will be cherished for as long as they exist.

There are many ways to incorporate the old with the new. In fact, a mix of modern decor and older pieces usually blend beautifully, creating a more interesting look than opting entirely for one or the other. Don’t be afraid to blend furnishings and accessories from different time periods. It creates depth and personality that is lacking in rooms that look like everything in them was ordered from the same catalog.

Common Family Heirlooms That Look Great in Any Room

1. Old Photographs – Your family photographs are one of a kind and irreplaceable. Rather than tucking them away in photo albums where they’ll rarely be seen, display them out in the open and enjoy them on a regular basis. Not only will you and your family members love seeing them, friends and acquaintances will, too. The first time you visit someone’s home, is there anything that captivates and catches your attention quite as much as a wall of black and white pictures?Read more

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a tiny studio apartment or a home with enough square footage to comfortably house a family of seven, everyone faces storage challenges. Enormous plastic storage bins are unwieldy and inconvenient, as well as being less than aesthetically pleasing. You probably won’t want them out in the open, but if you’ve got a lot of them, keeping them out of sight might be an issue. Fortunately, there are a lot of great ways to get creative with storage. Why not ditch the Rubbermaid and try some of these storage solutions instead?

1. Trunks – Ranging in size from a small suitcase to a portable wardrobe, trunks can be used to store out of season clothing or extra bedding. They look great in bedrooms, and can do double duty as a bench or a nightstand. They’re also functional and fun in living rooms. Why not replace your coffee table with a trunk? Vintage junkies rejoice when they find an old steamer in great shape, but due to their popularity, you can also buy brand new reproductions of these old favorites.

2. Storage ottomans – Whether you prefer the footstool style or one that can work as a bench or coffee table, storage ottomans are perfect for guest bedding, books, or all of those family photos you haven’t gotten around to sorting into albums, yet. You can even find them in kid-friendly prints, and they’re a great looking alternative to a clunky toy box.Read more